There seem to be more geeks on American television than at any time in the past. A few of these characters, including Abby Sciuto and Timothy McGee from NCIS, are memorable, but for me, Dr. Sheldon Cooper is one geek who stands out. If you've ever watched The Big Bang Theory, you'll probably agree with me (many TechRepublic members do agree, according to our recent Geekend poll). If you haven't seen the sitcom, here is my top 20 list (in no particular order) as to why Sheldon is the biggest geek on television.

Sheldon is an obsessive fan of comic books and science fiction. This goes a long way in explaining the restraining orders from Stan Lee and Leonard Nimoy.

Sheldon not only has an extensive comic book collection, but he is fully aware of its contents.

Like any true Star Trek fan, Sheldon has strong feelings concerning Will Wheaton, or as he is referred to in The Big Bang Theory, Evil Will Wheaton. (Photo credit: CBS Corp.)